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About Donna Scott

Chair of the BSFA since June 2013. Prior to this I was Awards Administrator, taking over that role from Claire Briarley in 2008.
I am officially Donna Bond since getting married in May 2013, but continue to write and perform under my previous name, Donna Scott.
My short fiction stories have been published in various anthologies and magazines, and I was winner of the inaugural Short Cuts at the MAC in 2005. As a comedian, I have performed all over the UK. Comedy has also given me the opportunity to perform alongside big names like Sarah Millican and Jasper Carrott! As a poet, I've also performed all over the place, including lots of science fiction conventions, and sometimes my poetry and comedy get kind of mixed up. I was the first official Bard of Northampton, it's true. I've got a tankard that says so...
I love being a part of the BSFA - I've always been a devourer of books and being part of this association has enabled me to explore some great science fiction classics - and classics of the future, that I might otherwise have not heard about. I've met some lovely people with an enthusiasm for the genre, made firm friends, and got to meet some of my favourite writers, too! As a writer, I also have to say that FOCUS is the best magazine for writers I've ever come across - and as a member I get that for free. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this?

Ahead of the Eastercon weekend, we have a sociable gathering, including some readings from notable authors, including Andrew Wallace and Stephen Oram. Should be a relaxed and convivial evening, all welcome. Come and join us!

With apologies, this event will no longer be taking place on Wednesday February 28th due to the current and forecast inclement weather conditions. We will endeavour to reschedule this event for another time.

This month's special guest is author Tade Thompson. Tade's story story The Apologists was nominated for a BSFA Award for Best Short Fiction for 2016 and also selected for Newcon Press's anthology Best of British Science Fiction 2016. Tade is also the author of Rosewater, which was a John W. Campbell Award Finalist, and Making Wolf, which won the Kitschies Golden Tentacle Award. The Murders of Molly Southborne is his latest work, which has recently been optioned for screen adaptation.

Tade will be interviewed by Liz Williams, a multiple nominee for the Philip K. Dick Award, Liz is the author of many novels such as Winterstrike, Nine Layers of Sky, Banner of Souls (which was also shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award), The Ghost Sister, Empire of Bones, Darkland, Bloodmind, The Poison Master and the Detective Chen novels. She has also written two volumes of The Diary of a Witchcraft Shop, concerning the everyday bemusements of running a witchcraft shop in Glastonbury.

The BSFA’s Monthly London Meetings are FREE!

When: usually the 4th Wed of each month (excl Dec). Fans meet from 1800 in the main downstairs bar upstairs start at 19:00 -though some regulars go upstairs earlier. Interview starts ~19:15.

Virtual Futures are hosting an event on 20th February: Virtual Futures presents Near-Future Fictions Vol. 04 on the theme of '(Dis)ease of the i-Mortal', curated by Allen Ashley and Stephen Oram.

Born of earth or brought back from far away, biological or viral invasions or diseases can affect humans on any scale; from protecting or plaguing an individual to becoming an epidemic that affects us all. Our authors take on a topic that Literature has meditated on from its inception; from Defoe’s Journal of the Plague Year, to Mary Shelley’s The Last Man, to Marquez’s 100 Years of Solitude, to Camus’s The Plague, to King’s The Stand.

They will show us the good, the bad, but not the bland; and predict the future of infection and infestation in any of its various forms. What is the nature of the diseases, contagions or contaminations have in store?

The event features a special presentation by Clarke-award winning author, Geoff Ryman. Geoff also won the BSFA Best Non-fiction Award in 2017 for “100 African Writers of SFF”.

Our next meeting is a tribute to the legendary novelist Brian Aldiss who passed away in 2017. Although not one of the founder members of the BSFA, Brian was given the #1 membership number very early in its days, and we were honoured to have him as our special guest at the BSFA/SFF joint AGM and mini-convention a couple of years ago.

Brian Aldiss won BSFA Awards in 1971 for his collection, The Moment of Eclipse, and in 1973 won a special award for Billion Year Spree. In 1982 he won the Best Novel award for Helliconia Spring, repeating the win in 1985 for Helliconia Winter.

The evening will feature readings from several authors including BSFA Award-winning Dave Hutchinson.

The BSFA's Monthly London Meetings are FREE!

When: usually the 4th Wed of each month (excl Dec). Fans meet from 1800 in the main downstairs bar upstairs start at 19:00 -though some regulars go upstairs earlier. Interview starts ~19:15.

Based on Adams' popular novel, which has been described as “a thumping good detective-ghost-horror- whodunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy theatrical epic”, the play is running from 30th January to 3rd February.

Mixing live action with computer graphics and film, the production also features a little bit of magic.

SUP is an award-winning community theatre group. Affiliated to the University of Southampton, which performs at the NST Campus theatre, the group often run productions for charity and have made appearances at events such as the Totton Drama Festival. SUP members include people from all backgrounds across the city, attracted by opportunities in acting, directing, writing, design, costume, lights, sound and more.

Tickets can be bought directly at the NST Campus here and are £13 each (£10 concessions).

In the last mailing, BSFA members received a little booklet of our latest regular publication: BSFA Review. #1 was produced as an A5 booklet as an exclusive treat for our members in its first incarnation. And in the last newsletter, BSFA members received a copy of BSFA Review #2 in its regular PDF form.

In order for visitors to site to see what the BSFA Review is like, we are now making the #1 BSFA Review available here in PDF.